Sorting machine



D. W. WADSWORTH SORTING MACHINE Filed Mqrch 12. 1924 'A TTORNE YS''TT-till Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES DWIGHT W. wADs-WORTH, or FENNVILLE, MICHIGAN.

somme MACHINE.

Application led March 12, 1924. Serial No. 698,809.

To all whom. it may con-Gern.'

Be it known that I, DWIGHT W. VVADswoRTI-I, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Farmville, county of Allegan, State 6 of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sorting Machines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sorting machines.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved sortingmachine for sorting or grading fruit which minimizes the laboi` of thesorters, enabling the performance of a relatively large amount of work15 and also accurate work.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction andoperation of my invention will definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisapplication, in which:

F I is a plan view of` my improved sorting or grading machine partiallybroken away.

Fig. II is a side elevation partially broken away. j

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts inall of the views.

The structure of my improvements illustrated comprises a main frameconsisting o side pieces 1, cross bars 2 and suitable uprights or legs3. The side pieces 1 constitute side members for the outer ways. j

I have illustrated this frame in detail as it will be understood thatitis to be made of the desired length and rigidity to properly supportthe parts. 5

I provide a pair of outer ways designated generallv by the numerals 4and 5 and an intermediate way 6. r1`hese ways are separated Aby the wayside pieces 7 disposed at the sides of the intermediate way, andcorresponding side pieces 7 are disposed at the sides of the outer way.

The ways comprise belts 8, 9 and 10 vsupported at their outer ends onthe pulleys 11, 11 and 11 having a common shaft 12. The pulleys 11, 11are fastened securely to the common shaft 12, but the pulleyll for thebelt 10 is loose or rotatable onthe shaft 12.

The bearings 13 of this shaft` 12 arey adjustably supported in theslides 14, screws 15 being provided for adjusting the bearings. j

The pulleys 16 and 17 for the return end of the belts 4 and 5 arefixedto theshaft 18 which is extended-to one side of the machine and providedwith the sprocket 19. The pulley 2O for the return end of theintermediate belt 10 is .fixed to the intermediate shaft 21 which isextended to the side of the machine and provided with a sprocket 22connected to the sprocket- 19 by the sprocket chain 23.`

The sprocket 19 is larger than thesprocket 22 so that the speed of theintermediate belt exceeds that of the outer belts, thereby adding t0 thecapacity of the intermediate belt.

The intermediate belt 10 is a combined driving belt and cull carryingbelt and is provided with a driving pulley 24mounte`d on the shaft 25carried by the forward legs of the main frame, the shaft having adriving pulley 26. An adjustable pulley 34C acts as a supporting idlerand belt tightener for the belt 10. t

The upper reaches of the` belts are 'supported by conveyor ways 27 idisposed between the pulleys so that; the belts slide thereon and aresupported horizontally. j

The lower return reaches of the belts v8 and 9 are supported by rollers35 so that they do not sag down in the way of the. sort.-

ers as they sit at the sides of the machine.

At the ends of the ways I provide bins 28, and 31. The bins 28 and 30have canvas bottoms and at their vouter ends I attach canvas dischargetubes 29. A part of the inner wall of these tubes is ycut away and theedge attached at- 36 to thecanvas bottom of the bin, providing in effecta bottomless discharge tube extending upwardly at the front end of thebin and securely attached to the rods 37. This forms a means fordischarging the fruit from the bins in to a basket or receptacle with aminimum bruising effect. To prevent the discharge, the

lower end of the tube may be gathered up and folded over the rods 37,allowing the fruit to accumulate into the bin until the discharge tubeis swung doivn into a basket or receptacle.

The Way 6 is provided with a laterally disposed bin 31 having adischarge door 32 held normally in closed position by the latch 33.

Vith the parts thus arranged the fruit or vegetables to be sorted aredelivered upon the conveyor belts, preferably from a sizing machine,Which delivers fruit, .for example, of a minimum size of 21/2 inches indiameter on to the belt 4 and fruit of a minimum size of 21/4 inchesindiameter to the belt 5, the first being the grade Yl. and thesecond,grade 2, in the case of apples. Tlie.sorters standing or sittinghat thesides vof the machine reniovebleinished or unsuitable. fruit from themain conveyor and place it on the cull conveyor.

By carrying the fruit or vegetables along before the operator 'for aconsiderable period of time it is possible to handle a large amountofmaterial with comparatively feiv sorters and with a minimum amount ofeffort on the part of thesorters, and very accurate Work may be done.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire'tosecureby Letters Patent is:

l. In a structure ofthe class described, the combination of a supportingframe, outer and intermediate conveyors disposed side by side andcomprising conveyor belts, the intermediate conveyor being shorter thanthe outer, front, iear. and intermediate shafts disposed transversely`of said belts, said rear and intermediate shaftsfbeing extended to oneside and being provided with sprockets, the front shaft ,beingadjustably supported, pulleys for said outer belts fixed to said frontvand rear shafts, pulleys for the intermediate belt, thefi'ear pulleybeing fixed to said intermediate shaftand the front pulley being`rotatable on said front shaft,'a connecting chain for said sprockets,said sprockets being of such relativesize that the intermediate belttravels faster than the outer belts, and a driving pulley for saidintermediate belt. i

2. In a structure of the cla-ss described, the combination of asupporting frame, outer and intermediate conveyors disposed side by sideand comprising conveyor belts, the intermediate conveyorbeing shorterthan the outer, front,v rear and intermediate shafts disposedtransversely of said belts, said rear and intermediate shafts beingextended to one side and being provided With sprockets, pulleys for saidouter belts fixed to said front. and rear shafts, pulleys for theintermediate belt, the rear pulley being fixed tol said intermediateshaft and the front sprockets, the front shaft being adjustablysupported, pulleys for said outer belts .fixed to said yfront andy rearshafts, pulleys for the intermediate belt, the rear pulley being fixedto said intermediate shaft and the front pulley being' rotatable onVsaid front shaft, a connectingchain for said. sprockets, and a drivingpulley for said intermediate belt.f`f"

4t. In' a' structure of the class described, the combination of asupporting frame, outer and intermediate conveyors disposed side by sideand comprising conveyor belts, the intermediate conveyor being shorterthan the outer, front, rear and intermediate shafts disposedtransversely of said belts, said rear and intermediate shafts beingextended to .one side and being provided with sprockets, pulleys forysaid outer belts fixed to said front and re-ar shafts, pulleys for theintermediate belt, the i'ear pulley being fixed to said intermediateshaft and the front pulley being `rotatable on said front shaft, aconnecting chain for said spro-ckets, and a driving'pulley for saidintermediate belt.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combinationl of asupporting frame, outer and intermediate conveyors disposed side by sideand 'comprising coiiveyorbelts, the intermediate conveyor being` shorterthan the outer, front, rear v,and intermediate shafts disposedtransversely of said belts, pull'eyspfor said outer belts yfixed to saidfront and rear shafts, pulleys for thein termediate belt, the rearpulley being fixed to said intermediate shaft and the front pulley beingrotatable on said front shaft, a driving pulley for said intermediatebelt, and driving 4connections for said rear and intermediate shafts'whereby the belts are drivenkat different speeds.y y

6. In a kstructure of tlievclass described, the combination of asupporting frame, outer `and Aintermediate conveyors disposed side byside and comprising conveyor belts, the intermediate conveyor beingshorter than the outer. supporting and driving pulleys for said belts,the pulleys at the front ends of said v'ayshaving a common shaft,pulleys for the rear ends of the outer belts, a pulley for the rear endof the in termediute belt, driving` connections therelor to said rem'pulleys ot' said outer belts, u driving pulley for the intern'iediatebelt which constitutes a driving belt, conveyor side members disposed atthe sides of said belts, and conveyor Way members disposed between saidpulleys for supporting the upper reaches of said belts.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

